KAYUNGA - Manvir Baryan has defended his Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally crown for a second successive time in Busiika.

The Kenyan beat stiff opposition in the form of Yassin Nasser, Arthur Blick Jr and Christakis Fitidis, who finished second, third and fourth overall, respectively, after eight sections in Kayunga on Saturday.

It is Baryan's third triumph in the race, which is part of the National Rally Championship and the FIA African Rally Championship.

He now adds the 2019 crown to his 2018 and 2017 titles.

“It has been a very fast race and I feel very great winning the Pearl of Africa Rally for the third time, which has strengthened my chances of winning the African Rally Championship,” said the Kenyan driver.

Yassin Nasser finished second overall and won the National Rally Championship. (Credit: Johnson Were)

Here, Nasser (right) with his co-driver Ali Katumba

Meanwhile, Yassin Nasser was delighted to have come in second as well as emerge winner of the National Rally Championship category.

Clerk of the Course (COC) Mukiibi Katende said the event was successful, with no major incident registered.

“What we had as accidents were normal sporting incidents of drivers losing control of their cars in the stages, but did not cause accidents,” he said.

The last Ugandan to win the Pearl of Africa Rally was Hassan Alwi (assisted by Enock Olinga) in the 2016 edition.